- Apr. 7, 2010
About TowerWise
Why TowerWise?
| Number of high-rise buildings in Toronto | 1,892 |
| Ranking in North America - greatest number of high-rise buildings | 2nd |
| Estimated number of modern 'slab' residential high-rises in Toronto | 1,200 |
| Tons of CO2 these buildings emit annually for space heating | 700,000 |
| Typical energy use & related GHG production per unit | 92 GJ, 4.7 Tons C02 |
| Percent more CO2 emissions per square metre than a detached home | 20% |
| Amount by which Tridel Verve "green" condos reduce these emissions per unit | 2 tons |
The TowerWise program focuses on improving the energy efficiency of Toronto's high-rise condominium and rental apartment buildings as a way of reducing emissions from a sector that produces 40 percent of Toronto's residential emissions. With more than one-third of Toronto residents living in high-rises of more than five storeys, addressing the energy usage of these buildings is key to reducing residential emissions, particularly given the scarcity of other programs tailored to this sector. TAF's TowerWise program aims to work with developers, building managers and residents to improve the energy efficiency and comfort of both newly built structures and existing buildings.
The TowerWise program has a number of elements, including:
- advancing new financing approaches that capture the bottom-line advantages of building green. This includes our established Green Condo Loan program and evolving efforts around guaranteeing financing for green retrofits.
- sharing information about best practices and technologies for green high-rise construction and retrofits. Our 2007 Dan Leckie Forum kicked off this effort with an excellent discussion of "Municipal Leadership in High Rise Emission Reduction." This website will continue this work by providing both information and opportunities for collaboration for those working to improve high-rise performance.
- identifying and addressing regulatory and fiscal barriers to taking greener approaches through pilot projects, technology demonstrations and research.
TowerWise Energy Efficiency Action Committee (TEEAC)
The TowerWise program is an umbrella for bringing together many interests -- from condo builders and owners to rental high-rise managers and residents. Helping us with this are our TEAAC members. The TEEAC group is also an important channel for getting the word out about the advantages of retrofits and green building practices and we will be working together on a number of educational initiatives, including webinars (web-based seminars) and conferences. Check the TowerWise calendar for upcoming events.
Getting involved
If your group or association is interested in joining the TowerWise project and assisting with improving the energy efficiency of high-rise buildings in Toronto, please contact program manager Tim Stoate (416-393-6368). If you'd like to be kept informed about TowerWise events, information resources and best practices, please subscribe to our e-newsletter, Looking Up.
Mayor's Tower Renewal Project
The Tower Renewal Project is an ambitious project to modernize Toronto high-rises built in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. Click here for more information on the Tower Renewal Project
Image courtesy of Mayor's Tower Renewal
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